Real Madrid will take on Roma on Tuesday night in a game which has suddenly assumed a greater amount of importance for the Spanish side following their shock 3-0 slump at Eibar on Saturday.
That was Santi Solari’s first game in charge since being appointed permanent manager and it could hardly have been any worse, with Los Blancos fortunate to escape an even bigger defeat at the hands of an Eibar team who had only scored 12 goals in their previous 12 league games.
And Real’s defensive concerns start off our three big storylines to look out for on Tuesday night in the Italian capital.
Solari seeking defensive balance
Saturday’s setback was the sixth time this season that Real have conceded at least twice in a game, and Solari’s biggest priority must be implementing a more solid overall structure to make his team’s defence much less porous.
The problems this season have been partly individual but much more so collective, exemplified at the weekend when Eibar regularly penetrated the penalty area without facing too much of a hindrance.
A long line of injury problems certainly hasn’t helped, with every defender in the squad except Sergio Ramos being forced onto the sidelines at some stage over the last few weeks. The ongoing absence of Casemiro, by far the team’s most effective midfielder from a defensive standpoint, is another obstacle to overcome.
But the best defensive teams are able to retain a solid structure regardless of the identity of the individuals involved, as evidenced by Atletico Madrid only allowing nine goals in 13 league games this season despite suffering just as many injury problems as Real. The first major test of Solari’s coaching skills is the challenge he faces to instil better collective organisation at the back and, if he can’t do so very quickly, Roma will have every chance.
Santiago Solari
All change on the flanks?
Things aren’t much better for Real at the other end of the pitch, where Solari is under pressure to make big changes following his team’s toothless showing at Eibar.
Karim Benzema seems certain to retain his place after an upturn in form over the last few games, including an early shot cleared off the line against Eibar, but the Frenchman is under pressure to prove his recent renaissance can be maintained rather than being merely a short-term boost.
There is far more uncertainty, however, around the places of Gareth Bale and Marco Asensio. Although the ability of the two wingers cannot be doubted, neither of them have been delivering on a consistent basis. Asensio has only been involved in two league goals all season (one goal and one assist), while Bale’s form has nosedived following a bright start to the campaign with no league goals in nearly three months.
Waiting in the wings are Isco, largely underused by Solari so far after undergoing surgery for acute appendicitis, and rising star Vinicius Junior, who showed some bright flashes as a late substitute on Saturday afternoon. And with Lucas Vazquez also itching for more playing time, it will be hard for Solari to tolerate subpar performances from Bale and Asensio for much longer – if at all.
Gareth Bale is struggling for form.
Roma seeking European redemption
The home team are also entering the game on a low ebb, with this weekend’s 1-0 defeat at lowly Udinese leaving Roma in seventh place in Serie A after gaining just one win in their last five league outings.
But the European front has been a happier hunting ground for Eusebio Di Francesco’s team, who are joint-top of the Champions League group alongside Real after bouncing back from a 3-0 opening round defeat at the Bernabeu to win three in a row.
Both Roma and Real will advance from the group irrespective of Tuesday night’s result if CSKA Moscow fail to beat Viktoria Plzen, but the bigger prize of finishing in first place – thereby theoretically earning an easier draw in the last 16 – is very much up for grabs.
Roma’s season so far has been disappointing on the whole, but inspiring memories of last season’s march to the Champions League semi-final are still fresh in their minds and should provide fresh impetus.
The absence of veteran midfielder Daniele De Rossi places more responsibility on the shoulders of former Sevilla man Steven NZonzi, while Edin Dzeko will be aiming to maintain his red-hot European scoring record after netting five goals in the opening four group games.
Eusebio Di Francesco
